Aretha Franklin passed away from pancreatic cancer in August 2018 and soon after it was initially believed that she had not left behind a will for her multi-million-dollar estate. However, several months later, handwritten wills were discovered in unexpected places at her home in suburban Detroit, Michigan, including a cabinet and under a sofa cushion.

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Now, a trial is underway to determine the validity of the two documents and establish which should be recognized as the late Queen of Soul's final testament. The trial began on Monday at the Oakland County Probate Court and is expected to conclude in less than a week. A six-person jury will hear testimonies from witnesses, including Franklin's children, her niece Sabrina Owens, and a handwriting expert.

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Aretha Franklin, an iconic figure in music history and an 18-time Grammy Award winner, recorded numerous chart-topping songs and was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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Despite her success, she maintained a private approach to her finances and reportedly resisted creating a formal will despite her declining health over the the absence of a will, her assets, including homes, cars, furs, and jewelry, were initially intended to be equally divided among her four sons. However, the discovery of the wills nine months after her passing has prompted a dispute among her sons.

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One argues that the papers dated June 2010, found in a locked cabinet, represent the authentic will. Meanwhile, two other sons contend that a will dated March 2014, discovered in a spiral notebook under sofa cushions, should take precedence.The trial will play a crucial role in determining the distribution of Aretha Franklin's estate and resolving the conflicting claims regarding her last wishes.

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In the ongoing dispute over Aretha Franklin's estate, a newer version of her will has emerged, naming her niece, Ms. Owens, and her son, Kecalf, as co-executors or personal representatives. This document also states that if Kecalf and Edward, Franklin's second and fourth sons, wish to benefit from the estate, they must pursue business education and obtain a certificate or degree.

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On the other hand, Kecalf and Edward argue that their mother's primary will is the one dated 2014. In this version, Kecalf replaces his brother as a co-executor, and he and his grandchildren are designated as inheritors of Franklin's prized $1.2 million (£934,000) gated mansion, described by Edward's attorney as "the crown jewel.

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"The newer will also includes a provision stating that Franklin's collection of gowns should either be auctioned or donated to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.Notably, Clarence Franklin, the eldest child, is not involved in the ongoing dispute. He resides in a Michigan assisted living facility and is under a legal guardianship.

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A lawyer for his guardian told the BBC they will not participate in the trial and "have reached a settlement that gives Clarence a percentage of the estate without regard to the outcome of the will contest".The family rift had earlier driven Ms Owens to quit as representative of her aunt's estate.

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"Given my aunt's love of family and desire for privacy, this is not what she would have wanted for us, nor is it what I want," she wrote in a 2020 court filing."I love my cousins, hold no animosity towards them, and wish them the best."Earlier this year, a court in Pontiac, Michigan, was presented with three voicemail messages recorded by Aretha Franklin in the months leading up to her death.

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In these messages, Franklin discusses a separate will that she was working on with an estate lawyer. However, attorney Henry Grix testified that he believed Franklin "hadn't made up her mind" regarding her final wishes.The judge presiding over the case has decided to exclude this document from consideration in the ongoing trial.At the time of her passing in 2018, the estimated value of Franklin's fortune was $80 million.

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However, more recent evaluations and outstanding tax liabilities have significantly diminished this figure.According to an inventory submitted to the court and reviewed by the BBC, the late singer's assets are currently valued at just under $6 million.Nicholas Papasifakis, Franklin's current personal representative, has stated that he is not actively participating in the trial and does not favor either side in the dispute.

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"Once there has been a determination by the Court as to the disposition of Ms Franklin's Estate," he wrote in an email, "I will follow that determination in distributing Ms Franklin's assets."

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